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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: pant on Wed, 06 April 2011, 17:14:39
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I recently bought my first mechanical keyboard, a 6GV2. You could say I am new to the mechanical keyboard scene. I wish I found this forum before I bought anything, but as is often the case I only discovered it once things went wrong and subsequent Googling turned it up.
So I have had it for exactly a week now, and I am a bit disappointed because the quality of the keys has proven to be inconsistent with the price and the rest of the keyboard. In other words, they're ****. The lettering on some keys is fading rapidly, and I expect it will soon be gone entirely.
I don't know if this is just because of where I live (U.K), but I wasn't exactly spoilt for choice when it came to choosing, so I got the 6G in part because there were no alternatives at its price point. Not ideal, I know.
SteelSeries will arrange a refund, but then I am back where I started - using a god forsaken rubber domed monstrosity. I don't look at the keyboard when I use it, so ultimately blank keys aren't a problem, but that doesn't stop it from being annoying, especially considering what it cost.
What should I do?
Get a refund and buy something else? If so, what alternatives are available? (FPS games with some RTS)
Replace the caps with different ones? (is that even possible?)
Have SteelSeries replace the keyboard/keys so that it/they they can wear out again in another week?
Deal with it?
Thanks
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The Keyboard Company is in the UK, I'd suggest looking at their selection. I, and many others here, can recommend Filco boards, although they're a bit more expensive than the 6G.
Although if the lettering does wear off you just got a free otaku set so unless you need the lettering it shouldn't be an issue.
You could try getting a set of double shot caps either from the group buy or from a member of the forum, they won't wear off.
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I think the equivalent Cherry Black Filco is about £30 dearer than the 6G. Worth it?
What do you mean by a free otaku set?
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Blank keycaps are often referred to as otaku keycaps. In the case of Filcos you need to buy these separately.
I ordered blank caps for both my Filco boards because it looks better and I don't need the legends.
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I use my SS extensively, and the lettering on the keys is just fine.
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How does this compare with the 6G quality wise? http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard_details.asp?PRODUCT=650
I use my SS extensively, and the lettering on the keys is just fine.
SS? SteelSeries? 6GV2? How long have you had it?
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Yep, I bought it for Santa.
Try to clean the keys, they get dirty quickly.
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Filco gets shiny quickly. Those keycaps are made of ABS plastic as well, but they have some kind of coating to protect the lettering.
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Look for doubleshot, or PBT keycaps in the group buy section. You can replace your original keycaps with those.
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Steelseries is an awesome company, I am sure they will work with you if you are unsatisfied. The 6gv2 is a good keyboard for the price, especially when they are on sale. As stated, Filco keys are also abs and will get shiny. If you just want doubleshot keys, any Cherry keycap should fit fine on the 6gv2.
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Steelseries is an awesome company, I am sure they will work with you if you are unsatisfied. The 6gv2 is a good keyboard for the price, especially when they are on sale. As stated, Filco keys are also abs and will get shiny. If you just want doubleshot keys, any Cherry keycap should fit fine on the 6gv2.
They would fit EXCEPT the big ass enter, weird short right shift and \| key
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Imsto is going to offer a special set for those keys.
Signature plastic doubleshots are another alternative.
TBH I wouldn't bother with the keycaps.
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They would fit EXCEPT the big ass enter, weird short right shift and \| key
Right, what he said.
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Still love my steelseries. Could be the best $60 I ever spent.
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The legends probably aren't fading, they are 'just' becoming dirty .
Steelseries uses a special lasering-technique where the legend is burnt
into the plastic . The burnt area will raise above the cap and turn white,
as seen in this video :
http://www.youtube.com/user/KimRom#p/a/u/1/iY4tDtWP1xc
A GH'er with experience in plastics explains the technique in this post :
http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=227525&postcount=31
That fried white plastic has a porous surface that attracts dirt like crap attracts flies.
It really IS annoying, the legends look so nice when the board is brand-new and have great contrast .
I changed the caps to doubleshots but you will probably need more than one donor-board due to the peculiar layout ..
( I believe I have also seen printed SS keycaps, on some of the more obscure layouts )
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I think I'll be getting one of these soon. Considering I can hardly get any other mech keyboard for a reasonable price. I'd love to get a Rosewill if they come back into the market, but the shipping and import taxes might raise the price a bit too much.
The retailer that brings 6Gv2's to Chile sales them for around U$115, with spanish layout.
But I got to admit that the keycaps are really disappointing.
I wonder if you could wipe the white printings completely off without damaging too much the keycaps, that could actually look pretty nice.
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I was going to get a 6gv2 until I discovered this forum. Im glad I did because I discovered the joy of tenkeyless keyboards.